'We're not hidg': Gay and lbian Rsians say a cultural shift is unrway

who is gay in union j

In North Ameri today, is timated that 100,000 Reform Jews - and 500,000 members of the larger Jewish muny - are gay or lbian. Over the last fifteen years, the UAHC has admted to membership four synagogu wh an outreach to gay and lbian Jews. Hundreds of men and women who once felt themselv alienated om Judaism and unwele mastream ngregatns have joed the synagogu, addg their strength and mment to our relig muny.

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MEET UNN J, THE BRISH BOY BAND WH THE OPENLY GAY MEMBERBY DAN AVERYAPRIL 27, 2013/12:15 PMBY DAN AVERYAPRIL 27, 2013 / 12:15 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MEET UNN J, THE BRISH BOY BAND WH THE OPENLY GAY MEMBER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2013-04-27T16:15:29.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2013-04-27T16:15:29.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[PTN ID="ATTACHMENT_98342" ALIGN="ALIGNCENTER" WIDTH="473"] UNN J'S J.J. HAMBLETT, GEE SHELLEY, JAYMI HENSLEY AND JOSH CUTHBERT (PHOTO: GETTY)[/PTN]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S NOT UNMON FOR A MEMBER OF A BOY BAND TO E OUT—BOTH N'SYNC'S LANCE BASS AND NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK'S JONATHAN KNIGHT HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT THEIR SEXUALY. BUT A BOY BANR WHO'S OPENLY GAY AT THE START OF HIS REER? THAT'S A NEW ONE ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOLLOWG THE FOOTSTEPS OF ONE DIRECTN AND THE WANTED, UNN J ARE ANOTHER BATCH OF BRISH LADS HOPG TO NQUER THE WORLD WH THEIR MELOD VOIC AND ADORABLE MUGS. BUT UNLIKE THOSE CHART-TOPPG ACTS, BAND MEMBER JAYMI HENSLEY HAS BEEN OPEN ABOUT BEG GAY ALMOST SCE THE START, WHEN THE QUARTET WAS FORMED ON THE UK VERSN OF X FACTOR LAST {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SCE THEN, UNN J HAS BEEN PERFORMG, MAKG PUBLIC APPEARANC AND WORKG ON A BUT ALBUM. THEY JT BUTED THEIR FIRST SGLE, "CARRY YOU," ON CAPAL FM THIS WEEK. (IT'S AVAILABLE ON ITUN ON JUNE 2.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A NOVEMBER TERVIEW WH BRA'S SUN, HENSLEY CREDS THEIR MANAGER LOUIS WALSH, WHO ALSO GUID BOYZONE AND WTLIFE TO FAME AND FORTUNE: “I SPOKE TO LOUIS ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID, ‘PUT THIS WAY, BOTH OF MY BIG BOY BANDS HAD A GAY MEMBER THEM.’ SO HE SAID FS THE FORMULA QUE WELL!"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TO HIS CRED, HENSLEY WANTED TO BE STRAIGHT UP (SO TO SPEAK) OM THE START: “I DIDN’T WANT TO DO FIVE YEARS’ TIME WHEN I HAVE MA MONEY AND HAD A REER," HE SAYS. "I DON’T THK ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO HI WHO THEY ARE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HENSLEY SAYS HE'S ALREADY HEARD OM APPRECIATIVE GAY FANS:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I GOT A TWEET OM A BOY WHO MT HAVE BEEN 13 OR 14, ASKG IF THE MOURS THAT I WAS GAY WERE TE. HE SAID HE REALLY WISHED I ULD BE OUT BEE HE DIDN’T HAVE ANYONE TO LOOK UP TO AND WAS FDG REALLY HARD TO F AND TELL HIS PARENTS. I WAS THAT KID AT 14 AND REALLY WISH I HAD SOMEONE TO SAY WAS OK TO BE PICTURED ON THE RED RPET WH A GUY AND BE GAY A BOY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN ADDN TO BEG OUT AND THE SPOTLIGHT, HENSLEY OFFERS YOUNG GAYS SOMETHG NEW: A GAY CELEBRY WHOSE JOURNEY WAS ANGST-EE: "I ME OUT WHEN I WAS 14 TO MY FAY AND IENDS AND NEVER HAD ONE PIECE OF NEGATIVY," HE SAYS OF HIS SEXUALY. "I HOPE THE REACTN WILL HOPEFULLY BE, ‘OK, WE KD OF KNEW, BUT WELL DONE ON G OUT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HENSLEY'S NOT SET ON BEG A SPOKMAN FOR THE LGBT MUNY—HE JT WANTS TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE PERKS OF BOY-BAND FAME ON HIS OWN TERMS: “I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO GAY CLUBS AND BE PICTURED WH [UK PERSONALY KATIE PRICE] AND HER GAY IENDS. I WANT TO HAVE FUN WH MY LIFE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WELL DONE, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELOW, TAKE A LISTEN TO "CARRY YOU."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND UNN J'S LIVE PERFORMANCE OF "CALL ME MAYBE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

The sger discs weddg plans as a change the law means om midnight gay upl n get married England and Wal. * who is gay in union j *

But a boy banr who's openly gay at the start of his reer?

UNN J'S GEE SHELLEY REVEALS HE'S DATED MEN IN THE PAST"I DON’T WANT TO BE SRED ANYMORE."{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY MATTHEW THARRETTFEBARY 3, 2016/4:27 PMBY MATTHEW THARRETTFEBARY 3, 2016 / 4:27 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"UNN J'S GEE SHELLEY REVEALS HE'S DATED MEN IN THE PAST","DATEPUBLISHED":"2016-02-03T21:27:27.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2016-02-03T21:27:27.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MATTHEW THARRETT","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BRISH BOY BAND UNN J HAS OFFICIALLY BROKEN THE GOLN LE OF BOY BANDS — THAT THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS ONE MEMBER WHO'S GAY, ALBE THE CLOSET OR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOLLOWG THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS BANDMATE JAYMI HENSLEY, WHO ME OUT AS GAY (AND TAKEN!) 2012, 22-YEAR-OLD GEE SHELLEY ANNOUNCED ON HIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL YTERDAY THAT HE HAS DATED BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, THOUGH HE WOULDN'T LL HIMSELF BISEXUAL BEE HE THKS LABELS ARE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELLEY SAID OPENG UP WAS A NEW YEAR'S ROLUTN OF SORTS, AND PARTLY RPONSE TO RECENT MEDIA SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY. HE REVEALED HE RECENTLY TOOK A TRIP TO THE JUNGLE, WHICH GAVE HIM "A LOT OF TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT I N BE MYSELF," HE SAID. "AND I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HI {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I'VE BEEN ON A PERSONAL JOURNEY AND I WANT YOU TO BE PART OF THAT JOURNEY OM NOW ON. I DON’T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HI ANYTHG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELLEY NTUED:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I’VE BEEN READG A LOT OF SPECULATN ONLE AS TO WHETHER I’M STRAIGHT OR GAY OR BI, AND 'S ALL THE LABELS AND ’S A LTLE B OLD FASHNED. THIS IS WHY I’M NOT GOG TO LABEL MYSELF, BEE 'S NOT SOMETHG I FEEL I N {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I’VE HAD GIRLIENDS THAT I’VE LOVED…BUT I’VE ALSO HAD BOYIENDS. I JT WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHETHER I CI TO BE WH A GIRL NEXT OR BE WH A GUY NEXT, ’S BEE I LOVE THEM, AND SHOULDN'T BE A BIG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A BIG THG OUT OF WHEN HAPPENS, AND I DON’T WANT TO BE SRED ANYMORE. I DON’T WANT TO FEEL LIKE I N'T BE MYSELF BEE I’M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT SOMEBODY MIGHT BE SAYG ABOUT ME OR THE LABEL, AND ALL THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I’VE NOT CHANGED, I’M STILL ME. I'M STILL THE SAME PERSON I'VE ALWAYS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I’M JT BEG A LTLE B LS SRED OF BEG MYSELF, AND THAT MAK ME QUE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO SAY. BRAVO, GEE!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Unn J's Jaymi Hensley has revealed he is gay - and said mentor Louis Walsh spired him to e out. * who is gay in union j *

But unlike those chart-toppg acts, band member Jaymi Hensley has been open about beg gay almost sce the start, when the quartet was formed on the UK versn of X Factor last then, Unn J has been performg, makg public appearanc and workg on a but album.

)In a November terview wh Bra's Sun, Hensley creds their manager Louis Walsh, who also guid Boyzone and Wtlife to fame and fortune: “I spoke to Louis about this and he said, ‘put this way, both of my big boy bands had a gay member them. ”Hensley says he's already heard om appreciative gay fans:I got a tweet om a boy who mt have been 13 or 14, askg if the mours that I was gay were te. I was that kid at 14 and really wish I had someone to say was OK to be pictured on the red rpet wh a guy and be gay a boy addn to beg out and the spotlight, Hensley offers young gays somethg new: A gay celebry whose journey was angst-ee: "I me out when I was 14 to my fay and iends and never had one piece of negativy, " he says of his sexualy.

"Hensley's not set on beg a spokman for the LGBT muny—he jt wants to be able to enjoy the perks of boy-band fame on his own terms: “I want to be able to go to gay clubs and be pictured wh [UK personaly Katie Price] and her gay iends.

UNN J'S JAYMI HENSLEY OPENS UP ABOUT COMG OUT AS GAY ON THE X FACTOR UK - VIO

Unn J star Jaymi Hensley says he's glad to be gay after his fellow bandmat Gee Shelley, Josh Cuthbert and JJ Hamblett shared kissg tips. * who is gay in union j *

Brish boy band Unn J has officially broken the goln le of boy bands — that there is almost always one member who's gay, albe the closet or otherwise. Followg the footsteps of his bandmate Jaymi Hensley, who me out as gay (and taken!

"Shelley ntued:I’ve been readg a lot of speculatn onle as to whether I’m straight or gay or bi, and 's all the labels and ’s a ltle b old fashned.

“Jt gog to the band, one of the first thgs that was said to me [by management] was ‘You’re not gay are you?

GEE SHELLEY REVEALS HE DIDN'T WANT TO 'JEOPARDISE' UNN J BY REVEALG HE WAS GAY

Bee if you are then you’ll be lled Unn Gay’.

UNN J AND ONE GAY BOYBAND MEMBER

Dpe boastg an out and proud gay member Jaymi throughout their time the spotlight, the group’s youngt star Gee was secretly sufferg silence when me to his own sexualy, g out publicly shortly before partg the group dramatic fashn early 2016. Now wh two out and proud gay members, Unn J are ready to fally she thentilly as a foursome for the first time as they prepare for a mil eback on their own terms.

Of urse, one of the thgs that’s amazg about you guys as a foursome 2022 is that you have two out gay members. Jaymi And vice-versa, om a gay man’s perspective for you Josh as well, there’s a difference you and JJ now the way the straight men n be so much more open about their feelgs.

Even as the pletely Pri flag-wavg, hell-bent gay Sufagette that I am and always have been, even I wouldn’t necsarily have talked about my issu. ’ and I thk I have a role as a straight guy this world to ll out homophobic ments like that.

UNN J'S JAYMI HENSLEY: 'I'M GAY AND I'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER'

I learned about beg gay om beg 14 and sneakg to gay bars… Gee didn’t have that opportuny so I thought was very important to give him a groundg space to learn about himself and fd who he is whout the prsure.

I went out last night wh iends, I was at a gay bar…’ and I was like ‘How is this nversatn [still happeng]?! ’ I was given such a safe space by the media to do : I didn’t want to do the whole whe t-shirt on the ont of The Sun wh the sad-lookg face, ‘My trma of beg a gay man’ like so many other gay boyband members had to do.

But hold on a mute, like you said, the ntradictn om two years ago, you’ve jt done this [piece] wh me, Rylan, Christopher Maloney, Lucy Spraggan, Ja Ellis; six or seven of the whole st of The X Factor were gay, but yet you want to pick on this one boy to make him outed. Jt gog to the band, one of the first thgs that was said to me [by management] was ‘You’re not gay are you? Josh: I remember gog to our management offic and I remember the nversatn about how I was a ser relatnship wh Chloe and was gog to get engaged and married; Jamie was obvly gay, Gee [was] gay, and JJ had a baby, and I remember the sort of vibe of the meetg was ‘Look, this isn’t what boybands do’.

UNN J: X FACTOR FALIST JAYMI HENSLEY REVEALS HE IS GAY

When I me out as gay, my weight was brought to a lot more, beg the ‘fat, gay one wh the high voice’.

The mastream media were promotg this ia at the time that you n’t be sired [as a gay man], that ’s all about beg straight and sexy.

UNN J SHARE KISSG TIPS AS JAYMI HENSLEY ADMS: ‘I’M SO HAPPY I’M GAY’

I felt like I was a bad gay when I was Unn J… I kd of me out and then beme a straight man, down to my image.

So I stopped wearg my hair blond and wearg cloth that were a ltle b more mp and beme a gay man that looked like a bad straight man.

Someone I’m so proud of at the mute is Olly Alexanr: I thk many gay men the dtry go ‘maybe I wish I’d had the guts to do what he did’. Unn J star Jaymi Hensley has opened up to Capal about g out as gay durg his time on The X Factor UK last year.

UNN J JAYMI: 'ONE DIRECTN GAY AFFAIR MOURS ARE HILAR'

The 'Carry You' sger says he had been worried before dng for the show that uld difficult beg gay a boy band wh such a female targeted fan base, but says everyone on the show was so supportive that he felt pletely fortable. Image source, Getty ImagImage ptn, Unn J's Jaymi Hensley (r) says he and his boyiend have had lots of supportA change the law means that om midnight tonight gay upl n get married England and Wal. "Legislatn allowg gay marriage was passed Stland Febary and the first same sex ceremoni are expected to take place October.

Speakg BBC Three documentary Learng to Grieve, Gee, 25, of Somerset, revealed he was so crippled by his loss that he stggled to leave his room and uld not brg himself to say his sister's name for months after her former I'm A Celebry nttant told how his prsn was exacerbated by his anxiety, which he veloped as a rult of tryg to keep his sexualy secret durg his boyband explaed he felt the need to hi the fact he is gay orr to be the right kd of 'product' to 'sell to their largely teenage female fanbase. I didn't want to jeopardise anythg for the band by beg gay. ' He add: 'We already had a gay member of the band Jamie, but I felt that if we had two members of the band that were gay would change the perceptn of the band and people's perceptn of me.

GAY AND LBIAN JEWS

Her sudn passg left Gee shock, grievg for his siblg and the future they were planng together as she was set to move wh him London Gee adms the BBC Three documentary that he spent a lot of time hidg who he really was bee he didn't want to 'jeopardise' Unn J om sellg rerds if their female fans learned he was gayShe died eight days later at the cy's Southmead Hospal wh e of ath listed as 'severe trmatic bra jury' 21-year-old had been planng on movg to Gee's London and the sudn ath left her brother grievg for the future they had planned together. 'She was one of the first people I told I was gay. ' Gee said Harriet was the first person he opened up to about his sexualy to: 'She was one of the first people I told I was gay.

GAY THE USSR

“Sure, ” they said, “you n be prsured agast g out, homophobia is everywhere after all, but they n’t possibly force you!

”However, the tth about the members of Unn J, who end up fourth the 9th season of the X Factor 2012, is sadr and more plited than what, for many years, mt have sound like for the general Hensley, one of the band’s sgers, me out as gay back 2012. “People knew, and then I started gog out, Jaymi would take me to the clubs, and people would see me wh the guys, ” Gee clared to the magaze gaytim.

'WE'RE NOT HIDG': GAY AND LBIAN RSIANS SAY A CULTURAL SHIFT IS UNRWAY

”In his documentary 2018, Gee go eper to how he was told that beg a band wh already one gay member whose public was maly teenage girls left no room for another member g out. In fact, the e of certa verbs is credibly tellg his terview wh gay tim. The choice to let one member e out is not at all unfaiar: was actually a very telligent move, given that 2012 the pany was facg strong mours and accatns about closetg the One Directn members, Louis and Harry particular, and havg Jaymi stretch how supportive they were ntradicted the closetg allegatns, suggted there was nothg gog on behd the scen and, even if there were, this would not be Sy’s dog, sce a boybanr om the X Factor had jt e out and they had not stopped choice to e out as bisexual 2016 (although Gee’s se, this was not a choice at all) and gay two years later do not sound all that foreign eher.

That is not to say we n’t disver ourselv wh time and perhaps realise we were not who we thought we were, but this ntext, is way too nvenient how many artists who have been stunt and beardg relatnships the past e out as bi, pan, omni, queer and so on, and then as gay later life, and particularly Gee’s se, where there is a clear different between the claratns given before he left the band vers once he actually is also an unfair and validatg move for queer people attracted to multiple genrs who need reprentatn the media and have their sexualy validated way too often as is. The pot is: havg gay people e out as queer or, often, as bisexual to ver they were forcefully closeted or past stunts is a very nvenient narrative for this reason, we are unable to spect a thg unls they blatantly queer the ntrary or e out as gay years later, for many artists be the only way to even make their queerns known if that’s what they want, and labels and management teams are aware works que well protectg their backs. Unn J is one more band among many others who suffered a poor and abive treatment the hands of an dtry rooted by homophobia and, overall, set to rpond to nservative valu stead of fightg and ntributg to societal change.

"I spoke to Louis about this, and he said, 'Put this way, both of my big boybands [Boyzone and Wtlife] had a gay member them'. "Every boyband has got to have a gay one! "I'm gay and I've never been happier!

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'"Hensley admted that he was slightly ncerned people would thk his cisn was a cry for attentn, pecially sce a number of openly gay acts entered the show.

"I got a tweet om a boy who mt have been 13 or 14 askg if the mours that I was gay were te, " he said. "I was that kid at 14 and really wish I had someone to say was OK to be pictured on the red rpet wh a guy and be gay a boyband. Signifince Gay History.

Unn J is signifint for havg the first out gay boy band member while their band was still performg, as Jaymi Hensley me out only a few weeks to the band's term on The X Factor 2012. After leavg the band, 2016, Gee Shelley also me out, first as bisexual, then later as gay.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* WHO IS GAY IN UNION J

Unn J and One Gay Boyband Member – No Stunts Magaze .

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